At its July 21 special meeting, the Needham Historical Commission voted 6-1 to impose a six-month delay on the demolition permit for 430 Grove St., the former home of William Emerson Baker. From 1867 to 1888, the home was Baker’s summer residence at Ridge Hill Farms, his sprawling property that included a pleasure garden, a large hotel and two artificial lakes. The property also had a cooking school and meat and dairy operations that were using new sanitation methods.
The property’s owner, Domenic Colasacco, had asked that the sixth-month delay be waived. He told the commission the cost of repairs would exceed building a new house, and that his intention is to raze the property and not build anything new there. “I don’t believe someone’s going to come along in the next six months and do this project,” Colasacco said.
Jeff Heller, a member of the Historic Commission, said that the primary focus of the commission isn’t potential development. “We’re here to talk about its potential as a historic structure,” Heller said.
Chair Gloria Greis, who is also the director of the Needham History Center & Museum, pointed out that parts of 430 Grove were constructed in 1750, more than 100 years before Baker.
“That is a house that has an important place in the town’s history,” Greis said.
Greis said that the purpose of the delay is to find an alternative to demolition. It would have to be an alternative, such as the purchase of the property for the purpose of preservation, that Colasacco accepts. Otherwise, after six months, he will be able to raze the structure.
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